For those who have had trouble differentiating between Nigerians and their tribe, you will appreciate reading this article. This is because we will examine the differences in Nigerian facial traits by the tribe.
The next time you spot a Nigerian with such facial characteristics, you can tell what ethnicity he/she is.
Physical Features Of Nigerians
Nigeria is home to more than 250 tribes in all corners of the country. However, each of these tribes has a unique physical appearance that makes them different from others.
One of the common facial characteristics for identifying ethnicity in Nigeria is their tribal markings.
This is because each tribe has its distinct conception which is drawn on the face.
Nigerian Facial Features Per Tribe
As mentioned above, tribal markings are the most common way of differentiating Nigerians based on their tribe.
However, some analysis has been provided about the facial features of the three main ethnic groups in the country. We are referring to the Hausa, the Igbo, and the Yoruba.
Yoruba Facial Features
It is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, located in the western portion of the country.
The Yoruba ethnic group has its unique facial inscription and patterns of different sizes.
Furthermore, the facial features of the Yoruba people vary from the place. Pelé’s facial characteristics differ from those of Owu, Gambo, and Abaja.
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Pele
There are two classes of people of Pele, we have the Pele-Ijebu and the Pele-Ijesha.
But both of them are in Ife, Osun State. Pele’s facial identity is characterized by a tribal mark that runs along three longitudinal lines that are boldly inscribed on the cheeks.
However, Pele Ijebu and Pele Ijesha and other variations of Pele have shorter longitudinal lines inscribed on the cheeks.
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Owu
The Owu people have a different facial mark which is unique to the Owu people of Abeokuta, Ogun State. It is characterized by six lines of incisions that pass through the cheekbones.
One example of the Owu inscription is that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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Gombo
It is also possible to call the style of their facial inscription “Keke”. It consists of several straight lines, which are curved around half an inch, written on both sides of the cheeks.
The population of Gombo resides primarily in Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
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Abaja
Individuals of Abaja have both simple and complex facial markings as a unique form of identity. They then have three to four horizontal lines running through their cheeks.
There is another set of Abaja which has approximately six horizontal lines on both sides of the cheeks. These categories of Yoruba are also called Alaafin Mefa Mefa and are located primarily in the state of Oyo.
Igbo Facial Features
The Igbo ethnic group is also amongst the main ethnic groups in the country.
They are found mainly in eastern and southern Nigeria, in places such as Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, and so forth. Just as the Yorubas have different facial markings, the Igbo also has several.
These include the Uri, Egbugbu, Nsibidi, Nki, Ogbanje Scar, and the Ichi.
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Uchi
The tribal inscription Uchi is fairly colorful, because of the use of dark and light dyes of colors such as yellow, white, black, and brown.
This facial design is primarily for females to make them attractive and ready for tribal holidays, although it can also be used for various celebrations and other events.
However, the tattoo lasts only seven days before it disappears.
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Egbugbu
Since the beginning of history, the Igbo people have inscribed the face drawing of Egbugbu to mark their people as free or slave.
Thus, the inscription is made based on the location where a newly born.
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Nki
The facial inscription considered Nki is basically for those who are considered to be strong and can endure the pain.
The brand is usually green in color and is designed with a needle. So any time you spot someone with those marks, you certainly know is an Igbo.
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Ich
Whenever you see anyone with a Moonlike circle and half circles on the cheeks, you should know that the person is Igbo.
Sometimes you will see that the facial inscription is a drawing of the sun in curved lines stretching from the forehead to the male chin and through the cheeks.
Kanuri Facial Features
It is another wonderful ethnic group located in northeastern Nigeria.
They are easily identifiable from other tribes as a result of the wonderful tribal design on their face. It consists of a line that is pulled from the forehead to the bottom of the nose. Then there are two more strokes on the cheeks.
Fulani Facial Features
Fulani is another dramatic ethnic group in Nigeria. They are found primarily in the northern part of the country, such as Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and so forth.
Fulani has unique tribal marks that make them look different from other ethnic groups. Their facial inscription is characterized by three visible lines, one is pulled from the center of the forehead towards the nose.
After that, a straight line is also inscribed on both sides of the cheeks.
Benin Facial Features
The people of Benin are originally from the state of Edo; they also possess an exceptional culture which makes them famous in the country.
This particular ethnicity is well known for its inscription on the face and body. They believe it is part of their ceremonial rights as well as signs to mark their family origins.
It is therefore designed for youth and the elderly, men and women.
Their facial inscription is called ‘Iwo’ and the size of the inscription differs depending on the type of scarification.
However, the most common facial inscription you may see is composed of four lines that are drawn near the ear. But you can also recognize a few with four horizontal lines and three vertical lines on both cheeks.
The best way to distinguish a Nigerian facial per tribe is through the tribal marks. It has been the main form of identification among the hundreds of tribes in Nigeria since time immemorial.
That’s why we decided to describe a few Nigerian tribes and how you can differentiate them facially. You may search for other tribes on Google and see their face inscription.